I was and still am an XBOT. But I do love my PS3 too. After reading all the doom and gloom posts about how the PSN+ is going to fail, I thought I would highlight some reasons why I think it will succeed. So here are some points to consider:
1. The PSN+ is new! This is virtually day one for the fledging new service. Remember how horrible XBOX Live was the first day is was available? And you still had to pay $50/year for far far less content and services than you get from just the free PSN now, much less the PSN+.
2. Predictions state that 1 million subscribers will sign up the first month alone. That is a $50 million dollar cash influx to Sony on the start of the PSN+. And that number will likely double this time next year when subscriptions run out and word of mouth increases the subscription base. Granted not all of that money will go to the PSN infrastructure, but it is a safe bet that a good portion will. That will allow Sony to spend more time and resources on making the PSN/PSN+ better. Remember, XBOX Live took years to get to where it is today, it did not happen overnight. And their success was fueled by the $50/year subscription fees each year. Sony should now enjoy the same improvement curve for the same reasons.
3. For $50, you will no doubt get at least $50 worth of content back over the course of the year. 15 months, if you signed up early. Sony obviously does not have the services (i.e. voice messages, cross game chat, party system, reporting system, reputation system, etc.) yet. But they more than make up for that with "content". Games, themes, Qore, etc.
4. Services. Voice messaging, cross game chat and all that will most likely come to PSN+ (not free PSN). I would expect to see some if not all of these in the next 15 months. Imagine the value when you get all the XBOX Live services plus all the nifty extra "content" that you get now. I don't mind waiting for that.
5. The yellow PSN+ symbol by your PSN ID. Petty? Yes. Cool? Oh, yes. Sure, it's "shiny beads and shallow flattery" on Sony's part (anyone remember that quote from M*A*S*H?). However, little things like that can have a huge impact on people. Who wants to be on the only person on their friends list without it?
6. The install base. Sony now has the install base that makes the publishers/developers take notice. Hence, Valve and EA focusing on the PS3 in ways they did not previously. And they are not the only ones. With the much larger install base, that is growing nicely every month, there are sufficient numbers now to fuel and sustain the PSN+.
Anyway, those are my 2 cents from an old XBOT who sees his PS3 as being his more played console going forward.
And keep in mind that we, the consumers, WIN when both Microsoft and Sony are neck and neck. Because they are in full swing competition and innovation mode.
Anchor released the full series of Muv-Luv Unlimited: The Day After on Nintendo Switch, providing a twist for the beloved visual novel franchise.
Prepare to jump into tactical plays and snow day mayhem this Free Play Days. Football Manager 26 Console and South Park: Snow Day are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday April 16 until Sunday, April 19.
The solo developer known as Dizzie hopes to push a new update in between six to 12 months.
not bad.
They're going to try and entice as many people over to their new service as possible before they drop the bombshell that they'll be charging for online play. They will wait until they release some high profile game, introduce some new features, and tell everyone that they'll need P+ for these new games with these new features. All the games before this announcement will remain free though. Mark my words. The free game stuff doesn't sit to well with me. Why should I buy any games if they could eventually become free through my account? And on the flip side, what if I buy a game and then the next month it becomes free? I also lose all my "free" games if I decide to stop paying for the service. They're best bet was to offer me something that was actually cheaper than xbox live, but since they're the same price, I'm going to compare them feature for feature, and PS+ isn't going to fare well anytime soon, especially if Sony is throwing a bunch of free games at me I don't even want.
@Mwaan
You may well be right. But as long as they offer those things that I mentioned, is that such a bad thing? Sony is throwing free (or rented, if you will) content at the PSN+ right now, because that is all they had to offer. But I truly believe that the other "services" will be coming in the next 12 months:
- cross game chat
- voice messages
- party system
- reputation system
- reporting system
- better parental controls
PSN+ is a great deal no matter how you look at it. You get to rent 12 full games a year for $50, you get discounts on DLC, you get free DLC, you get access to demos and betas. Any features they add would just be extra gravy. Any gamer who uses PSN a decent amount should consider PSN+.
Not to be sarcastic but will like to have your xbox tag and psn ID to make sure u have both system and yes I'm agree with u and the same thing I told to one of my friend, I wasn't expecting too much but at least the money that I put in my PSN+ it will be worth in time. Cheers!!!